Building Inspector

Summary

Hiring Salary Range is $36.46 - $47.38 an hour

Full Salary Range is $36.46 - $52.85 an hour

There are two open positions due to a retirement and an added position in the Budget.

The primary objective of this position is to perform highly skilled professional and technical work in the review, evaluation, and approval of building plans. This position will also conduct inspections on new and existing buildings to ensure construction meets existing building codes, laws, and city ordinances. This position will evaluate alternate methods and materials and perform other assigned duties.

Essential Duties

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Evaluate building permit applications and conduct plan reviews for commercial and residential structures:

• Ensure proposed plans for commercial and residential structures meet building, zoning, and related codes, as well as requirements established by the City and other agencies.

• Provide technical and fair interpretation of building codes and standards.

• Conduct plan reviews, identify necessary plan corrections, and require changes to ensure code and ordinance compliance.

• Work collaboratively with the Planning Division, Engineering Department and Fire Marshal to coordinate approvals during the plan review process and ensure that all applicable conditions and requirements of approval have been satisfied prior to issuance of permits.

• Meet with building owners, architects, engineers, consultants, and developers to clarify code requirements for construction design, materials, and practices.

• Ensure application materials, plans, and files are accurately prepared and maintained.

Perform combination inspections on construction for new buildings, additions, and existing buildings for compliance with the state building and fire and life safety codes, zoning, and related codes as well as conditions established by the City Council or other City departments.

• Conduct pre-construction meetings with contractors and architects to explain building permit and inspection requirements and procedures.

• Perform inspections promptly and accurately including building, plumbing, HVAC, sprinkler systems and other inspections as needed to verify compliance with applicable codes and conformance to approved plans and specifications.

• Evaluate and appropriately respond to situations and conditions in the field to ensure that the construction process moves forward and adheres to code requirements, while minimizing delays in starting or completing a project.

• Ensure that all structures are inspected for conformance to codes and ordinances in a firm but fair manner.

• Inform site superintendents, owners, and contractors of violations verbally and via written correction notices.

• Conduct follow-up inspections and work with building owners, contractors, and managers to ensure code corrections have been completed.

• Maintain electronic permit files regarding inspections results.

Provide consultation to owners, contractors, designers, architects, and engineers on building code requirements, construction methods and detail, and new products, standards, and technology.

Evaluate construction alternatives for equivalency to the requirements of the building codes and standards, and perform research of new technology, materials, methods, and products as needed.

Keep abreast of new materials, equipment, and practices, as well as new or changing codes, to ensure a thorough understanding of the building industry and the effective and fair administration of codes.

Foster an inclusive work culture and advance the City's diversity, equity, and inclusion goals.

Maintain and foster an environment, which facilitates the Exceeding Expectations (professional, responsive, leaders) philosophy of the City.

Perform all other duties and assume other responsibilities as assigned or apparent.

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

High school diploma or GED equivalent.

Certification as a Certified Building Official - Limited by the State of Minnesota.

Construction experience in a recognized trade such as framing, HVAC, plumbing, architecture or drafting.

Possession of a valid and unrestricted driver's license, or ability to obtain prior to employment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Certification as a Certified Minnesota Building Official by the State of Minnesota.

ICC building inspection certifications.

Post-secondary education in building technology, architecture, or construction related field.

Building inspection and/or plan review experience for a municipality.

Environment

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Much work is performed in field settings. Considerable outdoor work is required in the inspection of various commercial and residential construction. Hand-eye coordination is necessary to operate computers and various pieces of office equipment.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to drive vehicles; stand; walk; talk; hear; use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee often works in outside weather conditions. The employee occasionally works in high, precarious places and is exposed to wet and humid conditions, fumes, or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, risk of electrical shock, and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.